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Wastewater fears for urban farms Urgent action is needed to remove pollutants from urban wastewater, which is often used in cities to grow food, an international study has warned. Data collected by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) found that 85% of cities discharged the water without any appropriate treatment. With many developing nations swiftly urbanising, the authors said people were at increasing risk of disease. The findings are being presented at an international water summit in Sweden. BBC News_ 8/18/08 download the full IWMI report pdf Winner of Stockholm Water Prize criticizes biofuels and urges people to eat less meat The winner of the Stockholm Water Prize criticized the growing use of biofuels Monday and urged people to eat less meat to help cut the amount of water used in food production. British professor John Anthony Allan said the effect of the growing use of biofuels "is too frightening to even begin to realize." Allan, 71, of King's College, London, was awarded the 2008 water prize for his concept of "virtual water," which measures the amount of water used in industrial and food production. He was speaking to the AP on the sidelines of the World Water Week, a conference attended by 2,500 scientists, politicians and officials from 140 countries. Allan will receive the US$150,000 (€95,000) cash award at a ceremony in Stockholm City Hall on Thursday. AP/International Herald Tribune_ 8/18/08 The giant Mni Wiconi water project is ready to deliver the first Missouri River water to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, two decades after Congress first authorized the pipeline project. South Dakota's congressional delegation will join officials from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and three Lakota tribes Wednesday for a ceremony in Wanblee to mark the first delivery of river water on the reservation. The Mni Wiconi Rural Water System is designed to provide good quality water to more than 50,000 people in nine counties and three American Indian reservations west of the Missouri River. The project stretches from Fort Pierre, where Missouri River water is treated and pumped into a pipeline, to the Pine Ridge reservation, parts of which are more than 200 miles from the treatment plant. Mike Watson, head engineer for the Oglala Sioux Tribe, the lead sponsoring agency for Mni Wiconi, said officials estimated that spending on the project will reach $364 million this year, with the total cost of the 4,200-mile pipeline system to reach about $450 million by the time it is completed in about five years. The federal government is paying the whole cost for reservations and 80 percent of the non-reservation portion. The project is considered 80 percent complete now, with the rest to consist of small-diameter pipes that will deliver water to people, Watson said. Mni Wiconi is designed to serve 52,000 people but will reach more, he said. Beatrice Daily Sun_ 8/18/08 Tropical Storm Fay heads toward Florida Keys, kills 4 in Caribbean Tropical Storm Fay began to make its way toward Florida, after rain and winds lashed Haiti and the Dominican Republic yesterday, leaving at least four dead. The system, with maximum sustained winds of about 50 miles (80 kilometers) per hour, was about 270 miles southeast of Key West, Florida, and 205 miles southeast of Havana as of 5 p.m. New York time, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center's Web site. The storm is moving to the west-northwest at about 15 mph, and may cross western Cuba tonight before reaching Florida. A hurricane watch has been issued by the center for the Florida Keys, a 150-mile chain of islands stretching from the state's southern tip, as well as up the west coast of the mainland to Tarpon Springs, about 30 miles north of Tampa. Bloomberg_ 8/17/08
Alabama, Florida, Georgia Water Sharing Early dam plan supports Georgia's claim to Lanier water One of the core issues of the 18-year-old water dispute between Georgia, Florida and Alabama is whether water supply is an authorized use of Lake Lanier. Alabama and Florida contend it was not an original use and are challenging Georgia's agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on water storage based on a 1958 law passed a year after Lanier was completed. However, early documents proposing the reservoir that were obtained by The Times give credence to Georgia's position on drinking water supply. In a report sent to Capitol Hill on May 14, 1947, Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson sent the recommendations for development of the Appalachicola and Chattahoochee rivers to Columbus. The report also mentions Atlanta's need for water supply. Also included is the first reference to recreation, another purpose of Lake Lanier that has been disputed. No estimate was given then of the economic value of recreation on the lake, which is currently believed to be about $1 billion annually. Gainesville Times_ 8/16/08 Georgia plea for water goes to Supreme Court Around the U.S. Used quarry water soon will become Minnesota drinking water The cities of Burnsville and Savage have joined Kraemer Mining in an innovative, $13 million project that could help bring more water to Twin Cities' southern region. Ten million gallons of surface water is discharged each day from a quarry in Burnsville into the Minnesota River. But beginning next summer, a project led by Burnsville, Savage and a private firm will convert 4 million gallons of that daily into drinking water for the communities. The project calls for drilling a pumping facility and building a transmission line for a water treatment plant. Star Tribune_8/14/08 Bottled Water Colombian bottled water brand sold to Coca-Cola Construction Laketon Township, Michigan, begins construction of $9 million sewer and water line Crews are scheduled to begin work on a $9 million sewer and water line project Monday with the first road closure expected Aug. 18. The project, which is expected to last months, will extend sewer and water lines and result in new roads in certain areas of the township. Muskegon Chronicle_ 8/8/08 Desalination California Coastal Commission approves desalination plant for Monterey's Cannery Row The Ocean View Plaza on Cannery Row could not receive approval without securing a water supply. But the project now has its water after the California Coastal Commission voted 10-2 on Thursday to approve the project's proposed desalination plant. Water was the project's major sticking point, because Monterey does not have enough available water credits to allocate for the project. The Coastal Commission's approval allows the 11-year-old concept to move forward with the proposed 92,000-square-foot complex. The project will include shops, restaurant space, 38 market-rate condominiums, 13 low-cost housing units and 377 parking spaces. The City Council approved the current plan in June 2004, but it has run into some resistance including a lawsuit by a group citing environmental concerns. The project had been scheduled for Coastal Commission review in April, but an extension was requested after the commission's staff recommended against approval of the project. Monterey County Herald_ 8/9/08 S. California desalination plant goes forward A private company's proposal to build the nation's largest drinking water desalination plant at Agua Hedionda Lagoon in Carlsbad cleared its final hurdles Wednesday before the California Coastal Commission. The decision came at the conclusion of a 10½-hour hearing in Oceanside punctuated by objections from environmentalists and support from elected officials who stressed the crucial need to increase the region's water supply. The $300 million plant envisioned by Poseidon Resources Inc. of Stamford, Conn., would produce 50 million gallons of drinking water each day, enough to supply 112,000 households. Nine local water agencies have collectively contracted to buy the plant's entire output of drinking water. SignOnSanDiego.com_8/6/08 Environment Judge refuses to force restart of Everglades reservoir A federal judge has rejected an effort by the Miccosukee Indian tribe to force water managers to restart a $700 million reservoir construction project south of Lake Okeechobee while expressing sympathy for the tribe's position. U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno wrote that he "has reservations about again choosing the easy path of inactivity in this case. If the prime movers and shakers responsible for environmental remediation could simply suspend or cancel projects that they have committed to construct every time they were offered a 'better deal' with more potential for long-term improvement, the environment would likely be doomed." But the judge ruled against the Miccosukee, noting that seven environmental groups "stand at odds with the tribe." He added, "The most successful long-term solution to Everglades pollution may be to buy out the polluters, and currently that option appears viable." That was a reference to the state's proposed $1.75 billion purchase of U.S. Sugar Corp. and its land, announced in June. An attorney for the environmental group Earthjustice said Thursday that the proposed reservoir may have no value if the purchase is completed because that would provide the marshland needed to aid the Everglades. Palm Beach Post_8/14/08 International News Dam water storage down in Iran The volume of water stored in dams nationwide in Iran has declined by 46% compared to the amount last year, said deputy minister of energy for water affairs, MNA reported. Speaking to IRNA, Rasoul Zargar said that the volume of water in dams has decreased from 20 billion cubic meters in the past year to 11.1 billion cubic meters this year. According to officials with Agriculture Jihad Ministry, the drought has led to a decline in agricultural products by only 15 percent. Some 2,500 grams of agricultural products are produced in the world for each cubic meter of water, but in Iran the figure stands at between 600 and 800 grams. Iranmania_8/14/08 Phiippines' Maynilad Water seeks to provide water to customers fulltime by 2012 In a statement, Maynilad Water Services Inc. said it had borrowed $365 million to partially fund its program to rehabilitate the pipe network throughout the West Zone and significantly reduce system losses four years from now. Maynilad’s plan involves replacing old pipes and building new water facilities to provide 24 hours of water supply at a good pressure to 100% of the West concession by 2012. Aside from beefing up the investment for pipe rehabilitation and network expansion lined up in the next four years, part of the loan proceeds will be used to bring down the company’s nonrevenue water — or unbilled water due to leaks and illegal connections — to 40% or lower from its current level of 66%. GMA News_ 8/13/08 Missouri River Basin North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan assures funding to bring Missouri River water to rural area At a Sunday afternoon meeting in Linton, U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) brought the biggest news to Emmons County since the late 1940s when KEM Electric Cooperative brought electricity to the area and the 1950s when BEK Telephone Cooperative established rural telephone service. Sen. Dorgan announced that he is on track to get funding in Fiscal Year 2010 to bring rural water from the Missouri River to Emmons, McIntosh, Logan and Kidder Counties via a $68-million, three-year project. Doug Neibauer of Bismarck, Executive Director/Manager of the South Central Regional Water District (SCRWD), said construction could begin as early as the fall of 2009 since FY 2010 begins Oct. 1, 2009. Sen. Dorgan chairs the U.S. Senate Appropriation Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Water Appropriations, a position that gives him significant influence over funding for water projects as well as for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He was instrumental in securing $12 million to build the first phase of the project, which expanded the Burleigh County system to more rural users and to the City of Wilton and surrounding area. Emmons County Record_ 8/9/08 Regional Water Issues Salt Lake and Utah counties have appealed a Nevada water official's decision to keep them out of a project that would tap groundwater under Snake Valley and the west desert to feed growth in Las Vegas. Last month, Nevada State Engineer Tracy Taylor denied the two counties' request for "interested party" status, saying the counties should have filed a formal objection in 1989 to the Southern Nevada Water Authority's plans to build a $3.5 billion, 285-mile pipeline. In a lawsuit filed this week in Nevada state court, the Utah counties allege siphoning water from an aquifer that lies under the two states to feed Las Vegas would cause vegetation to die. If that happens, winds could pick up the destabilized soils and send them in dust-storm clouds to a Wasatch Front already struggling with particulate pollution. Salt Lake Tribune_8/8/08 Research and Technology Scientists "listen" to plants to find water pollution Wastewater Wolfeboro's current practice of spraying fields with treated wastewater has resulted in more than a decade of violations in state and federal law. But as New Hampshire Public Radio’s Amy Quinton reports, some Tuftonboro officials fear the new system could pollute Lake Winnipesaukee. Since 2005, Wolfeboro has not been able to add any more connections to its sewer system. That has essentially stopped development in town. Public Works Director David Ford says the town is upgrading its 30 year old wastewater treatment plant. But Conservation Commissioners in the nearby town of Tuftonboro worry that runoff into a brook will lead to pollution of Lake Winnipesaukee. Construction on the new wastewater treatment system should be finished by December. New Hampshire Public Radio_ 7/30/08 Water Rates Water rate conflict in Chattanooga Tennessee-American Water Co. is fighting back this week against the city’s “Fight the Hike” campaign, making its case for a water rate increase with radio and newspaper advertisements and letters to its 75,000 customers. In a mailing received by most customers Thursday, the water utility says most of its proposed 20.58 percent increase is needed to fund a $21.4 million upgrade of its system. Leaders of a the “Fight the Hike” coalition, formed to resist the latest rate increase, claim the utility is trying to make excess profits with its second double-digit rate increase in as many years. The public campaigns by supporters and opponents of Tennessee-American set the stage for next week’s hearing of the rate case in Chattanooga by the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, which is scheduled to decide in September how much, if any, water charges will rise this fall. Times Free Press_8/15/08 In Southern California, more renters are paying for water Welcome to the new era of rent wars as landlords and tenants spar over rapidly escalating residential water costs, who should pay them and how they should be apportioned. The issue is becoming even more urgent in drought-stricken Southern California this year because cash-strapped agencies and cities are hiking water and sewer service charges to offset the reduced supplies and higher cost of importing water. Cities across Orange County have increased water rates. San Clemente hiked rates 9 percent on top of a 5.7 percent raise in 2007. Santa Ana water users saw rates rise twice in the last year. But Darcy Burke, spokeswoman for the Municipal Water District of Orange County, says the retail price of water rose 30 percent over the last five years. With water rates quickly eating a hole in their bottom line, landlords are looking to ways to pass the costs on to tenants. Orange County Register_ 8/12/08 And Finally St. Paul, Minnesota ballpark becomes 'Skinny Water Stadium' A baseball team that often pokes fun at the conventions of the sport has joined forces with a beverage marketer for a promotion that simultaneously celebrates and sends up the naming of stadiums after corporate sponsors. The St. Paul Saints, a minor-league team in St. Paul, Minn., signed a deal with the Skinny Nutritional Corporation, which distributes the Skinny Water line of beverages, to rename Midway Stadium — its ballpark for all 16 of the team’s seasons — as Skinny Water Stadium. The tongue-in-cheek aspects of the agreement could be found in the fine print: The renaming lasted for just a week, from last Sunday through Saturday. The name has since reverted to Midway Stadium. New York Times_ 8/11/08 (logon required) Around the U.S. Pure New York City tap water may be muddied by climate change Bloomberg_ 7/7/08 download the EPA report pdf GAO: Farmers owe feds more than $450 million for California water project AP/San Jose Mercury-News_ 1/17/08 (logon required) download full GAO report Colorado River Bureau of Reclamation plan manages Colorado River in drought: 'everyone shares the pain' Salt Lake Tribune_ 11/2/07 download the final environmental impact study Desalination More research still needed, but desalination can boost U.S. water supplies: National Research Council News Release_ 4/24/08 download pdf of the full report Desalination: A national perspective International 2.5 billion live with poor sanitation facilities More people using drinking water from safe sources:UN report Click here to download the full report (note: large,16Mb PDF file) World Health Organization 7/17/08 Report: Beijing faces collapse due to water crisis Click here to download the full report. AFP and PI_6/27/08 World Health Organization reports lack of safe water, sanitation and hygiene urgent health issues worldwide WHO_ 6/27/08 download the full report
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